‘Unlimited’ Jelani Thurman Adding Versatility To Buckeye Offense

When Jelani Thurman was the second Ohio State freshman to lose his black stripe last spring, expectations for what he could do in his first season as a Buckeye started to ramp up.

Reality is rarely that easy for freshman tight ends, however.

Thurman redshirted last year, playing in five games and catching two passes for 15 yards. Tight ends coach Keenan Bailey did see enough out of him to give him a start in the Cotton Bowl, however, but he ended up playing just two snaps in that game.

To his credit, Thurman viewed it as a developmental year, which was wise since tight end is a developmental position. It may be the most unique position in football, asking a player to pass block against a defensive end on one play and then run a route against a defensive back on the next.

The physical aspect is just one side of it. There is also the mental side of the game that requires a complete understanding of everything being asked.

“Coach always says know what to do, why to do it, and how to do it,” Thurman said this spring. “Me basically over this year, I’ve just been learning all three things so I can be versatile and be ready to go with no questions asked.”

Last year didn’t go as Thurman expected, but that has only strengthened his resolve.

“Sometimes it doesn’t work out how you want it to but you just gotta keep grinding, trust the process, and come in ready to work every day,” he said.

“Of course you want to come in and play but obviously if you have somebody in front of you that’s doing the job and getting the job done, why not let them do that? I’m here to win as a Buckeye, not just get in and play and to try to be selfish.”

The Buckeyes went into the transfer portal and landed former Ohio tight end Will Kacmarek. They also return veterans Gee Scott and Pat Gurd, as well as redshirt sophomore Bennett Christian. It’s a crowded room, but one that needs players to step up.

Jelani Thurman spent last year learning and getting stronger at the point of attack. The physical development has taught him to have an appreciation for blocking, which is something that he didn’t necessarily have back in high school.

“Of course, it was one thing that I highlighted when I first got here, knowing that in high school I didn’t do really too much of it,” he said. “Just knowing that you can physically move a man and he knows you’re coming. That’s all blocking is, knowing that you can get your running back to the end zone just by you cutting somebody off.”

Regular playing time can take a while, but physically Jelani Thurman looks the part. At 6-foot-6 and 258 pounds, the frame is there, but that’s just the beginning.

“Unlimited talent. He can do whatever he wants,” Gurd said of his young teammate this spring. “Jelani’s just got to put his mind to it, and when puts his mind to it, you just watch out.”

After a year of developing and seeing successful results, Thurman also appreciates the words from his teammate, but knows he’s just getting started.

“I definitely feel confident about myself, of course. I feel like I have a lot of talent,” he said. “A lot of things to bring to the table, but I could describe Pat that way too. Unlimited talent, a great leader, and a great teammate.”

Jelani Thurman has never been more prepared for playing time than he is right now, and that progression will continue over the summer and into fall camp.

So what can he bring to the offense with regular playing time?

“Versatility,” he said. “A lot of playmaking. A lot of down and dirty blocks because I have gotten better at blocking. Just an exciting player.”

Go to discussion...